Seasonal Treats for June

The British summer food season starts picking up pace this month, with berries galore and savoury treats, too. Here are three of the best.

Strawberries

Yes, we know you can buy strawberries all year round, either grown in the UK under glass in cooler weather or imported from warmer climes, but there’s nothing like a freshly picked strawberry ripened under the English sun. Supermarket offerings can tend to be bland, especially Elsanta, which is grown more for its shelf-life than flavour, but Malling Centenary is juicy and sweet.

Strawberries are wonderful eaten on their own, dipped in yoghurt, or with sugar and cream as an indulgent treat. For a super-healthy twist, serve with balsamic vinegar, basil or black pepper to enhance their flavour. They are best stored in the fridge, with their stalks intact, then taken out a couple of hours before eating to reach room temperature.

Turbot

Wild turbot is in excellent condition in June. A large flat fish with firm white flesh and, unusually, no scales, it’s expensive but incredibly meaty, so a little goes a long way. It can be steamed, poached, baked, roasted or even cooked in a spicy curry, but probably the best results come from simply grilling or pan-frying gently with lemon, butter and a little black pepper. To check it’s cooked through, slide a knife into the thickest section, and if it feels hot when withdrawn, your turbot is ready to eat.

Wild thing: elderflowers

The glorious scent of creamy white elderflowers is unmissable in June. These tiny flowers grow in huge clusters from elder trees and shrubs, and you’ll find them everywhere from roadside hedgerows and woods to scrub and wasteland. Like elderberries, they are edible but slightly toxic when raw, so they should be eaten cooked. Try them dipped in a light batter, deep-fried and served dusted with sugar for an eye-catching dessert – perfect paired with berries. Elderflowers can also be used to make vinegar and, of course, the classic cordial. They are best picked in the late afternoon on a sunny day when they are holding more pollen and therefore more flavour. Give the sprigs a good shake to dislodge any insects before using.

June’s shopping list:

English asparagus, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, courgette, cucumber, garlic, lettuce, new potatoes, peas, sugar snaps, radish, rocket, rhubarb, spinach, watercress, raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries

By Gill Mullins, freelance writer and journalist at www.superhappycontent.com